Educational toy



Feb. 20, 1951 J, sc 2,542,948

EDUCATIONAL TOY Filed Dec. 11, 1946 :::tj /a a i- H613 FIG. 4 H615 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND J. SCHERF 2 Ma a; 6mm! Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED s'rArEs reTENr OFFICE EDUCATIONAL TOY Raymond J. Scherf, Royal Oak, Mich.

Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,539

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an educational toy and has for it object the provision of a simple and instructive toy which develops a childs faculty for visualizin contours and proportional sizes of objects.

The invention consists in a base member havin various specially shaped apertures therein and a block which may be inserted in each of the apertures by its manipulation into various positions. The block is shaped such that it presents three totally different contours when viewed from the front, top, and end, respectively. In determining the position of the block required for insertin it into any of the apertures of the base member a child is required to coordinate a particular contour of the block with the shape of the aperture.

A toy constructed in accordance with my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the base member of my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the block member.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are front, top and end views respectively of the block shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a block l0 generally cylindrical in form and having four similar corner portions removed therefrom. As is best shown in Figure 5, when viewed from an end, the block's contour resembles that of a cross with surfaces I2 and I4 parallel to the central axis of the cylinder and surfaces It and I8 perpendicular to said axis. The perimeter of the block when viewed from the top is circular as is shown at 20 in Figure 4. Midway between the top and bottom surfaces, 23 and 24 respectively, the block is circumferentially grooved as at 26. Similar grooves 28 and 30 extend transversely of the top and bottom surfaces along the midline thereof. It will be observed that when the block is viewed from the front as in Figure 3 it presents a square contour with a recess at the midpoint of each side.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a rectangular base member 32 provided with three apertures 34, 36, and 3B. Aperture 34 is shaped to cooperate with the end contour of block to permit insertion of the block endwise in the aperture. Likewise aperture 36 is circular and is adapted to receive the block only in the upright or inverted positions. Aperture 38 is substantially square with transverse projections 40 extending along the midline of each side. It will be observed that this aperture conforms to the contour of the block when viewed from the front or rear and is adapted to receive the block when it is manipulated to this corresponding position.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a toy which is entertaining as well as instructive. Unlike other toys of thi nature, such as puzzles and the like, it consists of only two parts and is therefore not as apt to be rendered unusable through loss of one of the component parts. Although I have shown and described only one form of the invention, it is to be understood that a multitude of other forms are possible within the scope of my invention, the important feature being the dissimilarity of the contours rather than the particular contours described.

I claim:

1. An educational toy comprising a block having top, side and front peripheral contours substantially round, rectangular, and cross-shaped and a base member having three apertures therein corresponding respectively in size and shape to each of said top, side, and front contours of said block, said block having a groove extending around the periphery of said round contour and said base having a projection on one of the sides of said rectangular aperture corresponding in size and shape to said groove, the edges of said block being shaped so as to interfere with said projection on the rectangular aperture on said base when the block is presented to said rectangular aperture with said round contour and to interfit with said projections when the block is presented to said rectangular aperture with said rectangular contour.

2. An educational toy comprising a block having top, side and front peripheral contours substantially round, rectangular, and cross-shaped and a base member having three apertures therein corresponding respectively in size and shape to each of said top, side and front contours of said block, said block having a groove in one edge thereof extending substantially perpendicular to said rectangular contour and defining a recess in the periphery of said rectangular contour, said base having a projection on a side of said rectangular aperture corresponding in size and shape to said recess, the length and width of said rectangular aperture being at least as large as the diameter of said circular aperture, the edges of said block being shaped so as to interfere with said projection on said rectangular aperture when the block is presented to said rectangular aperture with said round contour and to interfit with said projection when the block is presented to said rectangular aperture with said rectangular contour.

RAYMOND J. SCHERF.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dewey Oct. 20, 1885 Number 

